Stockport at home | Issue 45

Stockport at home Your customer newsletter

Issue 45

Page 16

Page 8 & 9

New homes in Stockport Page 14

Page 5

News in brief

Cornerstone Six months on

Over 2000 customers have visited our new head office since it opened.

Customers have more access to a range of services from the reception team, as well as computer facilities to help search for homes and jobs. The welcoming reception space has also become a centre for people to meet.

We have also seen customers making full use of our new community rooms, with bookings in high demand since we opened. Rooms can be booked at reasonable rates and a range of fantastic catering can be provided by Windmill Coffee Shop, a social enterprise based in the building.

To enquire about booking a community space for your event, contact Venues Manager Jane Ratcliff on 0161 474 3169.

Visit Windmill Coffee Shop Offering freshly made sandwiches, cakes and salads, the Windmill Coffee Shop has been open since September 2017. 6400 hot drinks have been sold and 1300 cakes and a popular choice is the range of daily deals including a meal deal (sandwich, snack and drink) for ÂŁ3.75.

So if you are after a tasty lunch or freshly made coffee, visit Windmill Coffee Shop, 2 Edward Street, Stockport.

5* food hygiene rating!

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Contents Insurance review leads to cheaper rates After a recent review of the Tenants Home Contents Insurance scheme, cheaper premiums and improved cover will be available from April 2018.

If you don’t have any home contents insurance, now would be a great time to join our scheme.

Premiums start from £1.09 a week (for tenants aged under 55) for a £9,000 sum insured, and just 72p a week (for tenants aged 55 and over), for a £6,000 sum insured.

For tenants who live in sheltered accommodation premiums start from 48p a week (for a £4,000 sum insured).

For more information, contact our Customer Finance Team on 0161 474 2820.

Underwritten by Allianz Insurance plc.

We have always worked closely with the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) to reassure customers living in blocks of flats about fire safety. Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy last June, however, we decided to launch a fire safety campaign in our blocks of flats which includes: • a free safe and well visit from GMFRS for every customer; • advice leaflets delivered through every door; • posters prominently displayed in blocks; • videos on the website and social media advising what to do when a fire breaks out in your flat or block; • advice on our website and social media pages; and • fire awareness training for Stockport Homes’ front line staff, which will be delivered by GMFRS. visit page 8 and 9 for more information.

Events for young people Over the last year, we have engaged with over 600 young people in our communities! Activities have included encouraging young people to make positive choices, developing key life skills and promoting health and wellbeing.

We have worked with key partners to deliver a variety of activities over the half terms and summer holidays, which has proven really successful.

For more information and events available during the Easter holidays, please contact the Customer and Community Engagement Team on 0161 474 2862 or email customer.involvement@stockporthomes.org.

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Employment

Training programme helps recruit staff for new Stockport cinema We helped the Light cinema at Redrock recruit new employees for the team when it opened in November.

In partnership with the Council, we ran training to help job-seekers prepare for interviews, resulting in 13 people gaining employment. After the success of the course, The Light asked us to run another assessment day to help recruit even more new employees as the cinema’s business increased.

For more information about how we can support you back into work, training or volunteering visit www.stockporthomes.org/employment-support.

Volunteer at Your Local Pantry!

Your Local Pantry is a community food club that helps save money on food bills. For just £2.50 a week, members can choose at least 10 items from a wide range of goods.

Our volunteer team always welcomes new recruits and we have a number of positions available across the four Pantries. Even if you’ve only got an hour

r Towers, Lancashire Hill Hanove

First House, Brinnington

spare, we’d love to hear from you. Roles available include shop assistant, stock assistant, driver (collection of donations) or helping out with admin.

Working at the Pantry is the perfect addition to your CV as you’ll gain retail experience, be given training and gain qualifications.

There are four Pantries in Stockport:

m Towers, Millbrook Fold Mottra

ington Crescent, Bridgehall 5 Cudd

If you’re interested in either becoming a member of the Pantry, volunteering or both, please call Anna on 0161 474 4760. To find out more visit www.yourlocalpantry.co.uk.

Freshstart can help you land a job, just like Zoe! Zoe recently approached us after seeing tweets about our ‘Freshstart’ job club:“I saw a tweet from Stockport Homes and thought I’d go to see if I could get any help job searching. It was the best thing I did; the team were all very welcoming and encouraging from day one.

"They helped me write my CV and I wasn’t sure what I wanted 4

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to do. I started customer service training and it really built up my confidence. The positive support each week from the team gave me the boost I needed.

“At the end of November I went for an assessment at a dog crèche and training centre. They were happy to take me on as a volunteer. Six weeks into my role, I was offered a part-time position with the company and I couldn't be happier.”

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Freshstart job club is every Friday from 10.30 - 3.30pm at First House, 367 Brinnington Rd, Brinnington, SK5 8EN. It’s a friendly and welcoming atmosphere where people support each other to take the next steps towards a better future.

You can contact the Employment Team on 0161 474 3772 or refer yourself at www.stockporthomes.org/ employment-support.

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Digital Free computer and internet training sessions We offer free internet and computer skills training sessions that could help you develop your skills and learn about using a computer and accessing the internet. It is also a great way to refresh your skills.

Sessions are available at: • Cornerstone (Edward Street, SK1 3NQ) every Tuesday between 2PM to 4PM.

Run by StartPoint, these cover everything from getting to grips with a computer or a tablet and staying safe on the internet to on line shopping and applying for jobs.

Just drop-in at the sessions and see how the internet could benefit you, or call Start Point for a chat on 0161 494 9947 to find more about what’s on offer.

• Bridgehall Community Centre (Siddington Avenue, SK3 8NR) every Thursday 10AM to 12 noon.

The Google Digital Garage bus visited Cornerstone earlier this year offering free digital support to small businesses and individuals. Customers attended the sessions, benefitted from a social media class, tips on building a CV and staying safe online - and over 60 local people visited the Google bus during the day. For more information about the digital support we can offer, contact 0161 218 1768 or email socialinclusion@ stockporthomes.org.

Get online with Save time, join us online.

myonline.stockporthomes.org We want to make it easy for you to access our services 24/7 – whenever and wherever is convenient for you. You can do this through our myonline service. It's simple, safe to use. For each of your accounts you can see: • Your balance • Your current charges • Your statement

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• Make a payment • Submit and amend a housing application • Use 'Search for a Home' to view and bid on available properties • Choose to receive information via email rather than through the post To create an account visit www.stockporthomes.org/myonline.

If you would like any further information please email myonline@stockporthomes.org.

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Board and Tenant Scrutiny Customer Scrutiny Panel Update The Customer Scrutiny Panel (CSP) reviews services provided by Stockport Homes. It highlights good practice and makes recommendations for improvements. This helps make sure high standards are maintained and that the needs of our customers are met.

The Panel meets twice a month for two hours per session, providing customers with an opportunity to learn how Stockport Homes’ services compare with others. It is a great way to be involved in and make a positive difference and it recruited two new members, Sheila Smith and Saadyia Aurahman in January 2018.

The CSP is currently reviewing the Older Persons Activity Service. This is considering how customers are made aware of the service and how it measures value for money. The report about this will be taken to the Board in May. For more information or if you are interested in becoming a member, please contact Callum Rimmer, Governance and Scrutiny Officer on 0161 474 1666 or callum.rimmer@stockporthomes.org.

Customer Monitoring Group The Customer Monitoring Group meets four times a year. It makes sure that customers’ views about the performance of Stockport Homes are shared with Stockport Council. The group reviews reports about performance and spending and its comments go directly to Councillors.

Joining the Customer Monitoring Group can provide you with the opportunity to gain skills that can help with employment. It makes a valuable contribution to Stockport Homes.

"Meeting quarterly, the monitoring group gives us an opportunity to understand Stockport Homes' performance, financial management and to ask staff related questions. It is a great opportunity for any customers to be involved with and would encourage customers to take part." - From customer For more information or if you are interested in becoming a member, please contact Jonathan Kelly, Governance and Scrutiny Officer on 0161 474 1666 or jonathan.kelly@stockporthomes.org.

Listening to our customers Customer feedback helps us to identify where things are going well and where we could do better. We want to hear from you if you’ve received a particularly good service or if something has happened that you have not been able to resolve. You can give feedback in lots of ways, including through the Stockport Homes website, (www.stockporthomes.org) via Facebook and Twitter, by phone (0161 474 2600) or by letter to Stockport Homes, 2 Edward Street, Stockport, SK1 3NQ. 6

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Customer Super Six Estate inspections rated at least “good”

Overall satisfaction with the outcome of repairs

97.37%

100%

Target: 97.0%

Anti-social behaviour complainants satisfied with the outcome of their case

Calls to the repairs contact centre picked up

98.0%

90.05%

Target: 98.63%

April 2017 to December 2017

Repairs completed right first time

94.3%

Target: 93.5%

Average time taken to successfully close an anti-social behaviour case

70 days

Compliments and complaints Between October and December 2017 customers contacted SHG with 78 positive comments, including: “I just wanted to say thank you for your helping me sign for the property. The help from your staff really helped make it easier so thank you.'

'My fridge freezer was broken and couldn't afford to replace it. After speaking with Furniture Recycling Scheme, a replacement was found and delivered. What a great scheme. The 2 guys who brought it were lovely too."

Between October and December 2017 we closed 173 complaints and in 58.4% of cases we agreed that a better service could have been provided. We aim to deliver a high level of service so we always examine these cases for learning points.

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Safe and well visits If you would like a visit simply call freephone 0800 555 815 or visit

www.manchesterfire.gov.uk.

These visits are provided by GMFRS to help reduce fires, fire injuries and deaths by ensuring every home has working smoke alarms and people get fire safety advice.

What does a safe and well visit involve?

During the visits GMFRS asks about the health and lifestyle of the people that live in the home to help them provide the right fire safety advice. If GMFRS find out that somebody in the home needs support to improve their wellbeing, it can provide information or link people into other organisations that can help.

For more information about fire safety in our blocks, please visit www.stockporthomes.org/ firesafety or if you have any concerns about fire safety in your block, please speak to the Neighbourhoods Team on 0161 217 6016.

If you don’t live in one of our blocks, don’t worry, you can still arrange a free safe and well visit by calling Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue on freephone 0800 555 815 or visit www.manchesterfire.gov.uk.

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Fire safety advice for customers in blocks Fire doors Do not leave a fire door save lives. wedged or propped open.

If a fire breaks out in your flat:

If you see or hear of a fire in another flat or part of the building:

Leave the room 1 where the fire is and close the door.

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1

Alert anyone in your flat and leave. When closing the flat, close the door behind you. Do not stay to put out the fire.

If you are instructed to 3 leave by a member of the emergency services, you should do so immediately.

Use the staircase to exit the building. Do not use the lift.

Dial 999 and wait for the fire service to arrive. Do not re-enter the building.

In either case, use the staircase to exit the building. Do not 4 use the lift.

A high degree of fire separation between flats and the rest of the building is achieved by making each flat a fire-resisting enclosure. This is known as compartmentation. If you notice any fire doors within the building that are damaged or wedged open, please call us on 0161 217 6016.

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It will normally be safest for you to remain in your flat.

However, you are 2 of course, free to leave the building if you would prefer to do so.

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4

Never disconnect an automatic closer.

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Please remember that you can also arrange a free safe and well visit by calling Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue on freephone 0800 555 815 or visit www.manchesterfire.gov.uk.

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Funding success across Stockport AUTSK and Adswooders, a youth group which meets at Adswood Youth Centre have been awarded £5,000 from the Greater Manchester High Sheriffs Police Trust for activities and events for local young people.

Oak Tree Court Residents Association is celebrating a grant of £1,000 of Forever Manchester Autotrader funds. This will mean the group can purchase a new cooker for their communal kitchen.

Brinnington Activity Group, have been awarded £2460 of Awards for All funds.

This will pay for travel to activities for group members.

Stockport County Community Foundation has won £1980 of funds from Yorkshire and Clydesdale Bank Foundation. This will enable County to continue to carry out grassroots football training and talent development with local young people.

Community Fund Over 30 local community groups were awarded with up to £1000 each as part of our Community Fund.

The support ranges from settling up activity groups, health initiatives and organising day trips for residents in care homes in Stockport.

For more information on how your community group could apply to the Community Fund, visit www.stockporthomes.org/ community-fund

Inspired by one of these stories?

You could get funding for your community group and its projects.

For more information, contact your Stockport Homes Funding Service via Mark Rogers on 0161 474 3463 or visit www.stockporthomes.org/funding.

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Introducing...

Reuben’s Retreat Our Charity of the Year 2018

We’re delighted to announce that Reuben’s Retreat will be our Charity of the Year for 2018!

Set up in August 2012 by Nicola and Mike following the tragic death of their son, Reuben’s Retreat will be a place to relax, recharge and build memories for families to take breaks that have a child with a life limiting/threatening illness. It already serves as a bereavement, counselling support centre for parents and siblings who have suffered the loss of a child and for families that face an uncertain future, a place to remember and rebuild.

Throughout the year, we will share more information about the charity’s work and our fundraising activities for Reuben’s Retreat. To learn more about the charity, visit www.reubensretreat.org.

Over £30,000 raised for St. Ann’s Hospice We are proud to have supported St. Ann’s Hospice as our Charity of the Year for 2016 and 2017 and thrilled to reveal the final figure raised by our team was £33,329.

Over the past two years, we have taken part in fundraising activities from bake sales and cycling challenges to treks up Snowdon. The charity has also offered both customers and staff the opportunity to volunteer in its shops across the Borough.

Our donations have helped the hospice continue to be a haven for families in traumatic circumstances. To find out more about St Ann’s or to volunteer check out www.sah.org.uk.

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Winter Welfare visits

Energy costs

Winter Welfare visits provide support to older and more vulnerable people living in our properties.

Every day people find themselves worried about the cost of their energy bills.

People who struggle with energy costs have a greater chance of falling into debt, struggling to pay their rent and suffering from cold related health issues.

If you feel you may be in danger of falling into fuel poverty or you are worried about your energy costs, call 0161 474 4062 to arrange a home energy visit and receive some advice from our Energy Advisors.

This year we gave customers advice and assistance on keeping warm, eating well and getting vaccinations. We helped identify repairs they needed and things like fall risks and provided everyone visited with a ‘goody bag’ which included a small gift and information about key services.

As well as reducing social isolation among those visited, surveys completed during the visits provides us with information to improve our services.

For more information, email aopsteam@ stockporthomes.org or call 0161 474 4291.

Reporting Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Contact us about any ASB issues you've experienced and we will work towards resolving them. Any reports are dealt with in the strictest of confidence. You can contact us: • In person by visiting our head office, Cornerstone.

• By phone on 0161 217 6016.

• By talking to your ASB Officer or Neighbourhood Housing Officer about the problem.

Find a customer event near you We support and host a range of events across Stockport. You can find out about the latest community events on our website.

To find an event near you, visit www.stockporthomes.org/events-calendar

• Online at www.stockporthomes.org/asb.

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Events in Offerton We asked residents in key areas in 2017, including Offerton. As a result, we have been working with residents to form a new committee and an art group. The Offerton Activities committee will support residents to access funding for Health & Well-being

projects & initiatives. They are currently supporting the art group which started in January 2018. If you are interested in taking part, contact Louise Evans on 07875 990 222.

Skills for Life Plus offers a range of learning and training opportunities.

Working with you, the courses are delivered by our staff and cover a wide range of topics including Food Hygiene, Beauty Therapy and Customer Service to help you get ready for employment.

Contact the team on 0161 474 2862 for more information on available courses or visit www.stockporthomes.org/skills-for-life-plus.

New Motiv8 website launched Motiv8 has launched a new website which features personal stories of success from clients as well as making it easier to refer people to receive the help and support they need.

Since the project launched in January 2017 it has already received more than 1,800 referrals.

Motiv8 is a programme to help people aged 25 and over across Greater Manchester to improve their lives and chances of getting back into work. It has been set up thanks to ÂŁ9.7m of funding from the Big Lottery Fund and European Social Fund (2014-2020) as part of the Building Better Opportunities Programme.

It provides personalised support to help people overcome barriers and move towards training, job search and employment opportunities.

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To find out more about Motiv8 and the eligibility criteria for the programme, please visit their website www.motiv8mcr.org or call 0161 331 2048 or email info@manchesterbbo.co.uk.

You can also follow them on Twitter @Motiv8GM.

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350 new build homes over the next year

New homes in Stockport The Viaduct Housing Partnership is developing homes across the Borough at a range of locations.

Over 350 new build homes for shared ownership and rental will be completed during the next 12 months.

The developments are: • Bredbury Curve, Bredbury

• Charles Street, Heaviley

• Lea Road, Heaton Moor

• Blackstone Fields, Offerton

• Cherry Croft, Romiley

• Mill Lane, Woodley

• Carrington Fields, Heaviley

• Edwin Street, Offerton

• St Thomas', Stockport Town Centre

18 new homes for affordable rent have opened in Edwin Street, Offerton.

These properties are of a mix of 12, two bedroomed houses and six, three bedroomed houses.

20 new homes have been built in Bulkeley Street, Edgeley.

Families have been settling into their new homes which includ a mix of two bedroomed houses, apartments and adapted properties.

Find the latest housing developments from Viaduct Viaduct’s website showcases the new homes being built across the Borough at www.viaducthousing.com.

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The latest news and photos of housing developments are shared on the Viaduct Twitter page. Follow @viaductSHG.

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Introducing...

The Three Sixty team are now working across Stockport and you may well see them working at houses on your street. Three Sixty are part of our group and are delivering large projects such as kitchens, bathrooms and roof replacements.

www.wearethreesixty.ltd @threesixtySHG

What about property repairs?

You will still have all of your general repairs done by the Repair 1st Team.

Over the last 12 months, the team have completed over 34,000 jobs.

Report any issues online at www.stockporthomes.org/ report-a-repair. To report an emergency repair, call 0161 217 6016.

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Carecall is here 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year if you need help.

*Silver service

Carecall is a trusted monitoring and response service based in Stockport, supporting over 4,000 people to live independently in their home.

Carecall can assist you in getting up if you fall at home but have not injured yourself, for just ÂŁ5.84 per week*.

For more information, please call us on 0161 218 1655 to discuss which level of service will best suit your needs.

Money worries?

Speak to the Money Advice Team If you are having concerns about money, struggle to budget or want help to manage your finances, our Money Advice team can help.

If you have been affected by changes to benefits or feel as though you don’t have enough money coming in to pay your bills our Money Advice Team offer free, expert advice to help you. You can contact them by calling 0161 217 6016 or emailing moneyadvice@stockporthomes.org.

Mental wellbeing Support is always available for customers. If you are feeling stressed or anxious we offer a number of free support services: One-to-one: We work with Talk, Listen, Change (TLC) to provide customers with help and support whenever it is need. Customers can access this service quickly via www.talklistenchange.org.uk/stockporthomes or by calling 0161 872 1100.

Group sessions: With Self Help we offer FREE six week community based group sessions for anyone who wants to learn to manage their anxiety or stress more effectively. For more information, or to book your place please contact Self Help on 0161 480 2020 or via www.selfhelpservices.org.uk.

You can get free copies of newsletters and other documents from Stockport Homes on audiotape, CD or in large print.

For more information, please contact Phil Rhodes: on telephone 0161 474 2860 text 07891 949 399, email phil.rhodes@stockporthomes.org.

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